the die is cast

Point of no return

The die is cast declares that a decision has been made and cannot be undone.

The phrase comes from gambling—once you've thrown the die, the outcome is determined.

Julius Caesar reportedly said it when crossing the Rubicon, committing to civil war.

When she submitted her resignation, the die was cast.

Related

decision · final decision · irreversible · Caesar · crossing · gamble · all in · committed · point of no return · no turning back · decisive · moment · risk · bold · bold move · fortune · chance · roll the dice

Categories
Opposites
decisiveness/commitment

the die is castundecided

Not having chosen

keeping one's options open · on the fence · hedging one's bets · uncommitted · subject to change

temporal relation to action

the die is castweighing options

Considering alternatives carefully

back to the drawing board · early days · carte blanche · in the balance · hanging in the balance

stage of decision-making

the die is castin the balance

Awaiting resolution, precarious

up in the air · pending · sleeping on it · back to the drawing board

Family

cast, casting, caster, casts, recast, outcast, broadcast, miscast, typecast

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G